CPG Chatter

As a long-time optimist,  I believe 2012 will be a very successful year — with or without significant improvements in the economy.  Businesses and consumers have proven to be both resilient and smart.  They are doing the best they can [...]

Several months ago I spoke at an industry conference regarding best practices in trade promotion management. I discussed the nature of collaboration between Manufacturers and Retailers and proposed that the goal of such collaboration was to create a “win-win” scenario [...]

If I was going to pick one word to describe 2011 it would be resilience. Everyone in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) space – Manufacturers, Brokers, Distributors, Retailers and Consumers – sure showed plenty of it. It’s easy to get [...]

As 2011 winds down, it is always interesting to look back and decipher how shopper behavior has changed.  Economic conditions certainly didn’t get any better and buyers felt the impact on their wallets and lifestyle.  As we head into 2012, [...]

Taking a well-deserved break from the daily grind to reflect achievements, acknowledge milestones and set new goals was the mission of MEI’s year-end company meeting and holiday celebration. The entire team recently gathered in sunny Orlando, Florida, to celebrate its [...]

Once a year, MEI hosts a User Conference to bring clients, prospects and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) experts together to partake in a little networking and a lot of idea sharing.  MEI recently announced the details surrounding its May 14-16, [...]

MEI is a company divided – when it comes to hockey, that is. Later this week the Montreal Canadiens host the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Bell Centre.  With Montreal being MEI’s official headquarters and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, serving as its home [...]

As we count down on 2011, I can’t help but think about what lies ahead. This was another difficult year for both consumers and businesses.  The current economic environment really puts a strain on all the participants throughout the Consumer Packaged Goods [...]

On a gorgeous, crisp autumn morning there is nothing more exhilarating than a trip down to the Farmers Market. Because winter will soon be setting in here in the eastern United States, I only have a few more chances to [...]